John Pierce grew up in Nashville where he played high school basketball at Franklin Road Academy. After earning all-state recognition as a high school player, Pierce signed to play at Lipscomb University for legendary coach, Don Meyer. Under Meyer’s instruction, Pierce was able to learn not only how to become an effective basketball player, but also he learned how to be an effective teammate and part of something bigger than himself.
In Pierce’s time at Lipscomb (1990-1994), the Bisons compiled an overall record of 129-19, qualifying for the NAIA national tournament all four years. Scoring in double digits in every game that he played, Pierce became the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history. His 4,230 career point total still stands as the national mark for a college career. Included in the national record are Lipscomb career records for free throws made (881) and field goals made (1,627). His 54 point performance on November 14, 1992 still stands as the school single game scoring mark. Pierce also holds the Lipscomb career record for rebounds with 1,497. He was a four time NAIA All-American and a two time NAIA National Player of the Year. Along with being a member of the Lipscomb Athletics Hall of Fame, Pierce was inducted in the NAIA Hall of Fame and was named one of the 50 Greatest College Basketball Players of All-Time by Grantland.com. Upon graduating with a BA in English, Pierce played five seasons of professional basketball overseas in France, Australia, and Japan before beginning his high school coaching career.
Coming full circle in his athletic career, John Pierce is now the varsity boys’ basketball coach at his high school alma mater, Franklin Road Academy. In the past 5 seasons, his teams have compiled a 132-30 overall record including two trips to the D2A Tennessee state championship. John and his wife, Amber, live in Brentwood where they are raising their 5 children.